The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-21
MINERALOGY.
The Great Work Being Done by
the United States Geologi- i.
cal Survey.
Hunting for Minerals and Precious
Ores--Investigating the
Earthquake.

GdrCuQudk6s
WASHINGTON, July Is. - Maj. j. w.
Powell, director of the geological survey,
has submitted to the secretary of the in
terror, for his approval, plan of opera
tions for the geological survey for the
present year. He proposes to continue
surveys for the Typographical map of
the United States, now in progress.
In an interview Major Powell said:
"The geological work will be carried on
as heretofore, in various parts of the
country-in New England, along the At
tantic coast; throughout the Appalachian
mountain system in the lower Mississippi
region; along the southern and
western shores of Lake Superior;
in the rich mountain region of Colorado,
in what promises to be an important coal,
petroleum and natural gas field in the
near future in Montana; in the California
gold belt, and in half dozen other re-
gions of interest from scientific and
economic standpoint. A promising line
of investigation along the Atlantic slope,
relates to the queen sand marls of Virginia
and the Carolinas. 1t is not realized by
citizens of those states that there lies
within their low eastward hills stores of
untold wealth, which will eventually revo-
lutionize agricultural methods pursued
in these states, in the shape of
| just such green sands and
marls as have within the past generation
transformed the sand wastes of New
Jersey into veritable gardens"
During the coming year." said Major
Pavill, "Mr. Gilbert will go on with his in
vestigation into the structure of the Apala-
chan mountains and of the coal beds and
sandstone beds yielding petroleum and
natural gas along their western TANKS.
The area In Elliott county, Kentucky,
which is now being prospected for dia-
monds, falls within this division, but Off
GERS of the survey have given but faint
encouragement to prospectors. They
have shown that the great
mineral resources of the Gum
berland plateau takes the form
of coal, iron, oil and gas, and possess a
permanent value exceeding that of the
silver of Nevada, the gold of California or
the diamonds of the Cape.
Professor Irving continues his work
upon iron-bearing and copper bearing
rocks of the Lake Superior region, and
his profound Investigations will doubtless
serve to hold in check, or guide, as the
case may be, the mining excitement now
ripe in that region. The lower Missis
sippi region Investigations of iron ore and
sulphur deposits, green sand, marls, ETC.,
by Mr.. johnson, are yet in progress,
and natural resources are rapidly becom-
ing known and available, largely through
the labor that has been bestowed upon
them by scientific men. The work in the
mine has hitherto been carried on by the
pioneer explorer and geologist, A. v.
Hayden, but failing health has compelled
the veteran to retire from active duties,
and he is succeeded by his former assist
ant, DR.. Peale. DR.. Peale is already in
the field.
Newly opened routes of transportation
through Montana at the same time create
a demand for the varied mineral resources
of this portion of the Rocky mountain
region and afford means of utilizing them,
and active operations, as the short sea
sons permit, are accordingly required. In
a portion of the Rocky mountain region
lying within Colorado, important mining
enterprises are constantly guided and con-
troled by the investigation of scientific
men, and the division of the geological
survey assigned to this region is
among the most important
institutions. During the last summer the
Denver coal fields were exhaustively inves
tigated, and report setting forth the ex-
tent and value of the coal will be prepared
during the present summer. Natures
great laboratory-the Geyser region Of
Yellowstone park-hss already afforded
much insight into the process of mineral
formation and studies already commenced
thereby.
Mr.. Hayne and his corps of assistants
will be continued during the present sea-
son. Mr.. Becker has finished his investi-
CATION of the quicksilver deposits of the
Pacific slope, and, in order to
give his report thereon place
among the classics of science, he has not
only made thorough local study, but has
taken up the whole subject of.quick-silver
deposits of the globe, visiting those of
greatest importance, including the mines
of New Almadeno, Spain. His report
upon this subject is about to go to press,
but meantime his assistants have taken up
the investigation of the auriferous depos-
its of the gold belt skirting the west base
of the Sierras, in California.
Prof. Chamberlain's studies of the
glacial deposits of the country have been
nearly completed, and the final reports
thereon will be prepared during the pres
emit year. The ultimate object of Prof.
Chamberlain's work is the classification
, of the soils of the northern United States
for agricultural purposes. The fruition
of this branch of activity in the survey is
at hand.
During the past six months
Capt. Dutton has been engaged
in discussing the data relating to
the Charleston earthquake, and will
send to press a monograph on the subject
in which will be discussed not only the
significance of the earthquake in the light
of seismology, but the science itself will
be reconstructed in the light afforded by
. this remarkable seismodic disturbance
Meantime, his work upon the great vol
q 4. - nnIsHD..sc -.